Winds and rain may be in the Christmas forecast for San Diego.
“Winter weather is coming back,” said NBC 7 forecaster Whitney Southwick. “It’s going to be clear and sunny and chilly.”
A high wind watch was issued from Wedneday evening through 4 p.m. Thursday. Winds out of the west toward the desert will be gusting up to 45 mph. Some gusts may hit 60 mph, Southwick warns.
He's predicting overnight lows in the 30s for some sections of the county.
There is also a 20 percent chance on the west side of the mountains with a 50 to 60 percent chance of rain in the mountain areas.
High wind warnings were in effect Wednesday morning for Los Angeles and Ventura counties with gusts up to 70 mph possible in the mountains north of Los Angeles and Santa Monica Mountain range, creating hazardous crosswinds for drivers in mountain passes, including the Grapevine section of Interstate 5 and along the 101 Freeway in Santa Barbara County.
Snow levels will fall to between 4,000 and 5,000 feet by Christmas morning, according to the National Weather Service. "Mountain travel, especially through the I-5 corridor will be difficult" due to blowing snow, according to an NWS statement.
